🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $745 in Maracaibo versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,249 in Maracaibo versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,753 in Maracaibo versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Maracaibo costs roughly 67% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Maracaibo is 44% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.59VES 7,784
$16.19€14.17
-34.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.33VES 29.6K
$63.3€55.4
-36.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.79VES 6,458
$10.32€9.03
-14.83%
Cappuccino
$2.75VES 2,025
$2.83€2.48
-2.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15VES 844
$2.29€2.00
-49.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30VES 956
$1.58€1.38
-17.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20VES 1,614
$3.40€2.98
-35.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03VES 2,228
$4.03€3.52
-24.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72VES 1,266
$1.09€0.95
57.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01VES 1,476
$1.75€1.53
14.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11VES 817
$1.76€1.54
-36.93%
Eggs
$3.04VES 2,236
$3.17€2.77
-4.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.90VES 4,335
$13.19€11.54
-55.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.27VES 3,874
$7.97€6.97
-33.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.34VES 4,657
$15.53€13.59
-59.18%
Apples(1kg)
$4.31VES 3,166
$2.37€2.07
81.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37VES 1,007
$1.71€1.49
-19.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68VES 1,238
$2.01€1.76
-16.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.48VES 1,084
$2.43€2.13
-39.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17VES 861
$1.76€1.54
-33.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69VES 1,241
$2.03€1.78
-16.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99VES 726
$1.92€1.68
-48.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63VES 1,202
$0.85€0.74
91.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44VES 2,529
$6.58€5.76
-47.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.27VES 6,814
$5.58€4.88
66.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07VES 783
$1.33€1.17
-19.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65VES 1,946
$2.97€2.60
-10.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49VES 358
$2.28€1.99
-78.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.21VES 31.0K
$45.79€40.06
-7.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.90VES 2,866
$4.23€3.70
-7.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96VES 1,443
$0.81€0.71
141.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.73VES 13.0K
$18.44€16.13
-3.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.52VES 380
$2.08€1.82
-75.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KVES 16.8M
$34.7K€30.3K
-34.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2KVES 22.9M
$39.2K€34.3K
-20.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$16.36VES 12.0K
$148€130
-88.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.61VES 6,328
$20.46€17.90
-57.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.41VES 18.7K
$39.56€34.61
-35.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.13VES 25.1K
$47.99€41.99
-28.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.62VES 17.4K
$18.60€16.27
26.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97VES 3,650
$9.22€8.07
-46.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$111VES 81.7K
$616€539
-81.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3KVES 10.5M
$16.4K€14.4K
-12.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.23VES 30.3K
$103€89.9
-59.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.87VES 30.8K
$41.74€36.52
0.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.7VES 43.1K
$94.8€82.9
-38.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.6VES 43.8K
$122€107
-51.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$181VES 132.7K
$1,633€1,428
-88.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$102VES 75.1K
$1,232€1,078
-91.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327VES 240.4K
$3,098€2,711
-89.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$213VES 156.3K
$2,031€1,777
-89.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$763VES 561.2K
$7,831€6,851
-90.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$497VES 365.6K
$4,389€3,840
-88.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$198VES 145.8K
$1,607€1,406
-87.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
26.6
3.81
598.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maracaibo: July 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Maracaibo and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 710% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Maracaibo vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $267 per month, with Maracaibo cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Maracaibo vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Maracaibo and in Lisbon?
Maracaibo and Lisbon differ by about 207% in total monthly costs ($745 vs $2,291 including rent). Maracaibo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 710% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Maracaibo and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $181 in Maracaibo versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Maracaibo and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $111 in Maracaibo versus $616 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $745 in Maracaibo versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maracaibo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Maracaibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Maracaibo and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Maracaibo or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Maracaibo and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Maracaibo or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Maracaibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 207% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.